Making Beer

 Ideally, Bruce should be writing this post... because although I've watched him make several batches of beer, I have only a vague idea of what he is doing and why.  What I DO know is that he enjoys the entire process very much- every bit as much (and perhaps even more) than the final outcome. :)

Bruce mixes up various flavors or styles of beer in this large keg. It has to sit for 2 wks.  Once the two weeks are up, he bottles the brew.

Bruce really likes glass bottles, but they are expensive, so he saves every glass bottle from all different places, and beers, and re-uses them for bottling his own beer.  The scary thing about using glass bottles, is that the beer can build up pressure and explode. EEK!

You have to put sugar in the bottles... just the right amount. I believe this has something to do with carbonation.  Bruce measures it very carefully with this cool little calibration thingie. :)  See how much I know about this??? 

Then, the caps go on. This handy little device is a bottle capper. 

and yes... it's every bit as fun to use as it looks!

NOW... you have to wait again. Two weeks at the minimum, although, Bruce tends to like his beer aged a bit longer- 3-4 wks. more.  His next project is trying to make hard cider! Now THAT I may even like! :)